February 15, 2017
Hosting Norwegians or Costa Ricans
The deadline for hosting Norwegian or Costa Rican 4H/4-S members through States’ 4-H International Exchange Programs (States’ 4-H) is February 28 at the National Office in Seattle. Applications are submitted on line. A link to the application is at http://www.kansas4-h.org/events-activities/global-citizenship/host-family-information/index.html. Screening will involve checking two references, an In Home Interview and a Criminal Back Grown Check. Families who have hosted previously may not need to repeat some or all of the vetting.
If families are interested in applying close to or after February 28, it would be best for them to check with State International Exchange Coordinator Mary Kay Munson first to determine if there are still opportunities to host them. Information that became available the day of this writing indicates there are 10 Costa Rica 4-S members ages 14-16 and 18 Norwegian 4H members ages 17-19. Each group with have 2 chaperones. These exchangees will be in with one host family each from June 26 to July 22.
Families with older teens will be preferred for the Norwegians. Families with younger teens could provide a host sibling for a Costa Rican. Kansas needs additional families to host so that current applicants will be accepted. If families, who apply for a Norwegian or Costa Rican, are no selected, they can be considered to host an IFYE or Japanese youth. (See next article regarding IFYE’s.) Mary Kay Munson may be contacted at 785-238-3631 or munson@ksbroadband.net.